Burdette’s Renaissance book—how significant a problem was it to private co's when mint engravers mad

Longacre

I was reading the Burdette Renaissance of American Coinage 1909-1915 book. In it Burdette tells of how Charles Barber had a side business making private medals. This was something that had occurred in the past with other mint engravers, and was nothing new. However, it seems that private industry complained directly to the mint director about the practice. Burdette writes,

“In addition to the collector and dealer complaints, there were multiple letters from Medallic Art Company of New York. Co-owner Henry Weil, who had helped engraver Charles Barber make hubs from the 1907 St. Gaudens extremely high relief double eagle models, and brother Felix insisted that the Philadelphia mint personnel were using government equipment to produce advertising medals for private sale. He also suggested that Barber and Morgan had a steady side business cutting private commission dies during working hours.”

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How significant was this problem? How significantly did it impact the business of these private companies? Was it unusual to have an outside company writing to the mint complaining about the actions of engravers?

RWB

By the 1892 Columbian World’s Fair several American companies had developed the capability of striking larger size medals for clients. Prior to about 1885, the US Mint was the only place that had presses large enough to make big, high relief medals.

The Weil brothers felt that allowing Barber, Morgan and William Key to prepare private medals using equipment at the Philadelphia Mint was unfair competition. However, this was normal for most of the world’s mints and the practice was not prohibited until the middle of the twentieth century.

firstmint

The same was true for George Soley, a long time member of the U S Mint.

He took (meaning had it shipped) the first steam press to exhibitions and public parades, etc., and struck off numerous medals.

He was the one responsible for the 13mm US Mint / Lord's Prayer brass medals which are still widely available (without the original red, white, and blue ribbon). The 13mm collar he utilized was the one used originally for the Type I gold dollars.